 |
Have you inquired of the Lord?
“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of Lord. “Shall I go and attack the Philistines”? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.” So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them (2 Samuel 5:17-19a).
David was a man who loved the Lord. He was a man after God’s heart. He so loved God that he desired to please Him in all his ways. God saw that David’s heart was totally committed to Him and that is why He appointed him king over His people (1 Samuel 13:14).
One of the ways David expressed his love and reverence for God was by inquiring of Him. In other words, seeking his face, his permission, before going to war (see 1 Samuel 23:1-4, 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Samuel 2:1). This is evidence that David recognized that God and God alone could help him defeat his enemies and that without God’s help, he and his men would be consumed by their enemies. Our text tells us that when the Philistines heard that David had been made king of Israel, they decided to attack him. Instead of David quickly gathering his men and going straight into battle against the Philistines, he first asked God whether or not he should go. God said yes and gave him the victory.
Shortly after, the Philistines came against him again and again David inquired of the Lord. Friend, David could have said “I don’t need to ask God again, He already gave me permission to go to war against the Philistines”. But David knew better. He knew the importance of obtaining God’s permission before doing anything and it was a good thing that he did because God gave him the strategy he needed to defeat the Philistines the second time (2 Samuel 22-25)
Another man who knew the importance of inquiring of the Lord was Jehoshaphat. There was a time when the Moabites, Ammonites and some of the Meunites came against Jehoshaphat and though he was afraid, he sought the face of the Lord. The Bible tells us that the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah and he said “Listen King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you; Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God’s. God went on to give Jehoshaphat the strategy and he and his men defeated the vast army that had come against him.
If the truth be told, unless the hand of the Lord is in whatever we do it cannot succeed. So why not make sure that His hand is in it by first inquiring of Him. It was the Psalmist David who said “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain….(Psalm 127:1). And his wise son, Solomon said “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). May we seek his face and commit our ways unto Him so that our labour may not be in vain in Jesus Mighty Name.
Friend, that project you are thinking of starting; that trip that you are planning to take; that investment you want to make; that man/woman you want to marry; the studies you want to embark on; have you inquired of Him? If not, why not do so now! Remember God is still saying “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Prayer: Lord, help me to get into the habit of inquiring of you before I embark on the things that I do. Cause me to learn to commit my ways unto you. Lord, help me so that my labour may not be in vain but rather that I may have good success in all that I do. Thank you for your Word which assures us that we need only ask and that you will answer. Thank you for answering this prayer in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen. Click here for Previous Weekly Devotions |
|